Here’s a deliciously snackable selection of the latest in Perth food news this week:
Fremantle’s resident rum bar Jungle Bird may not be subtle – but it sure is fun! Now open just down the road from Jungle Bird, Honky Tonk is bringing good old-fashioned southern hospitality and a rootin’ tootin’ good time to the former RSL on Freo’s High Street, with a lineup of American beers, whiskey-focused cocktails and snackable comfort food. Yee-haw, baby!
Armour & Haloes, the monthly merging of food, wine and music curated by our esteemed colleague Max Veenhuyzen is back for another night of delicious snacks and even more delicious tunes. This Sunday, July 16, head to Northbridge haunt Astral Weeks for Jewish and Middle Eastern snacks from pop up The Chutzpah Deli, plus an exciting selection from the folks at Dormilona Wines and Max and Mitchell Jay on the ones and twos.
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We just can’t catch a break… Guys, we’ve lost another one. Offering a modern take on traditional dim sum at all hours of the day (and night!), Northbridge dumpling palace Little China Girl has suddenly closed their doors, with their final service last weekend. RIP (rest in pan-fried dumpling).
Highly anticipated drive through coffee spot (a phrase we never thought we’d say) Coffee Heads is making its long-awaited debut this week! From Friday July 14, you’ll be able to cruise through and pick up next-level brews (thanks to the crew at Margaret River Roasting Co.) and sandwiches worth travelling for (thanks to ex-Vasse Felix head chef Brendan Pratt). It almost makes you consider a tree change!
In more new from the state’s South West! Busselton’s The Goose was one of the town’s most beloved eateries when it was tragically destroyed by a devastating fire in 2021 – but in a positively inspirational show of gumption, the venue has managed to survive, rebuilding their venue from the ground up and hustling their way through the past two years with a takeaway food van popping up on the beach. Now, finally, they’ll be unveiling the brand new Goose when they reopen their doors from Friday, July 14.
Masterchef alum and Bumplings founder Brendan Pang is heading to Karrinyup’s Topi for one weekend only. On July 14 and 15, diners can enjoy a vibrant feast that merges Pang’s Mauritian heritage with Topi’s regional Indian cuisine – make sure to get your tickets here.
Northbridge haunt Ruinbar is making Sundays a little sweeter with a brand new, delightfully tempting pizza and pint special. For just $16, you’ll be wolfing down your choice of 9-inch pizza from the humbly-named Pretty Good Pizza (it’s actually pretty great), plus a pint of the day to wash it down. Need some vitamin C? They’ll also sort you out with $12 Tommy’s and Bloody Marys.
We almost couldn’t decide whether to make a joke about Bruce Springsteen lyrics, Daredevil-level sense enhancement or Succession-inspired napkins on head, but nevertheless – we remain mighty intrigued by the thought of dining in the dark. If you’re as curious as we are, The Stables are hosting a one-night-only immersive experience on July 19, with your senses of taste and smell heightened to new levels as you dine in total darkness. Make sure you book ahead here.
Channel Euro summer vibes with some beachside Italian dining! For 20 consecutive weeks, Il Lido’s Head Chef Alessandro Caramanico will take you through the regions of Italy, offering four local dishes from each region for $75. Running Tuesday through Thursday for both lunch and dinner, the restaurant’s superstar somms can also level up your meal with an optional glass of wine from each region to match. Things kicked off with Trentino-Alto Adige, and this week the chefs are journeying over to Friuli Venezia Giulia – check out the menu and book here.
Much like everyone else in the world, we’ve gone a bit Barbie-mad around these parts – so we’re well and truly on board with any and all pink-ified events. On July 22 and 23, The Aviary is transforming their ever-popular bottomless brunch offerings into Plastic Fantastic – with two hours of bottomless sparkling, themed cocktails and a brunch menu that includes pink pancakes, açai bowls and fried chicken waffles with pink maple. (We’re still waiting with bated breath for the Oppenheimer-thened brunch.)
The Ritz-Carlton’s fine diner Hearth combines fire-powered cooking with a passion for West Australian ingredients – so joining forces with Paul “Yoda” Iskov seems like a match made in heaven. A longtime champion of Indigenous ingredients, Iskov’s legendary pop-up diner Fervor has hosted meals in some of WA’s most remote locations – but you won’t have to travel quite so far this time. Taking place on July 26 and 27, the special event features a five-course menu curated by Hearth Chef De Cuisine Brian Cole and Iskov, alongside Chouette wines selected by The Ritz-Carlton’s Perth Sommelier Camila Luzzi, this is certain to be unforgettable. Get your tickets here.
Now in its third year, dining series Artisans of the Republic brings together West Australia’s finest producers with the culinary (and distilling) talent of the Republic of Fremantle. Two dinners remain for this season, partnering with stracciatella-slingers La Delizia Latticini for an Italo Dinner Party and regenerative farmers Dirty Clean Food for a, and we quote, “tantalizing banquet for the carnivorous connoisseurs”. Hoooo-boy! Book here.
The coffee empire that just keeps growing! Not content with their four buzzing locations in Subiaco, South Perth and the CBD, Community Coffee Co has announced that they’ll be opening a fifth location in suburban shopping centre Duncraig by Hawaiian.
Remaining at the top of the heap when it comes to spots we’re always happy to have dinner, Mount Hawthorn’s Casa has expanding their operation to include a takeaway pizza joint next door, aptly named Casa Pizza Wine. Having welcomed guests for a one-night-only collab pizza party with Melbourne’s Capitano back in May, they’ve swung open their doors for service Wednesday to Friday evenings.
Nothing says TGIF like a suckling pig, we say! Luckily, the folks at Santini agree – and they’re bringing back their much-loved Pig & Pinot every Friday lunch from this week. Wood roasted, Sicilian-style suckling pig, Italian cabbage slaw, crispy potatoes – and juuuust enough pinot to make you write off doing any work Friday arvo.
The State Buildings are all abuzz with the return of State of Wine, a celebration of all things vino – from well-loved greats to unfamiliar new finds or rare delights from every corner of the globe. Curated by State Buildings’ award-winning Director of Wine, Emma Farrelly, there’ll be plenty of equally excellent eating on offer alongside damn fine drinking – including the aptly-named “Greatest Wine Dinner of all Time”. Feeling funky? Do a deep dive into WA pet nats, methode Champenoise sparklers, beer and cider. Check out the full lineup here.
When it comes to winter, we’re all about day trips into the Swan Valley, crackling fireplaces and warming wines – and some indulgent feasts. Sandalford is ticking the boxes on all fronts, with Chef Alan Spagnolo’s new menu celebrating the earthy flavours of truffles, decadent pastas and seasonal produce.
A truly immersive experience of Boola Bardip’s Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition, this one-off event is a luxurious dining experience fit for a pharaoh! Accompanied by a live harpist, feast on Egyptian dishes created by Heyder & Shears’ Head Chef Steve Watson as you indulge in wines from Plantagenet – plus you’ll be able to get an unsurpassed look at the exhibition with a tour and talk from Dr Moya Smith, the museum’s Curator of Anthropology and Archaeology. The dinner will be on Friday July 28, get your tickets here.
Nom Nom Festival is ready to well and truly ward off the winter blues! This six-week festival will bring a stacked roster of foodie events to the Leederville Precinct – from collab dinners with La Delizia Latticini, Sauma’s Gurps Bagga or Yalla Bala, to a progressive lunch that features Servo, Will St, Naber + IIII and Powell’s. Refo Red Wine Festival and Urban Wine Walk will bring the festival vibes, or get sipping and singing at a hip hop or vocal house-themed brunch. Fancy yourself a bit of a budding sommelier? Indulge in top shelf drops with “Fall-Off-Your-Chair” pricing every Friday, Vino & Vinyl every Monday night or “All Day Chardonnnnayyyyyyy” every Sunday – including $2 oysters! There’s heaps more, so check out the Nom Nom Festival website for the full lineup of events.
The first grape vines in the Swan Valley were planted in 1829 – and winter is when you can really appreciate all those generations of experience. Winter Wines in the Valley celebrates the best of the Swan Valley’s wine producers with some extra cosy, extra delicious fun – from matching fortified wines with decadent desserts, marshmallows over the fire, French feasts for Bastille Day, museum wine flights, chocolate pairing and much more.
West Leederville’s Aliment Cafe has made way for Breadboy: a Japanese-inspired sandwich joint that nods towards global flavours. The early hours feature a more limited, crowd-pleasing breakfast menu – think bacon and egg sandos or smashed avo – but we’re heading in for the lunch menu, which features an enticing roster of shokupan sandos: from classic chicken katsu to a prawn katsu patty studded with corn, or a wagyu menchi (mince) katsu. Toasties touch upon a range of cuisines, including a Cubano, hummus and roast veg number or humble tuna with pesto.
The announcements from camp Kailis are coming thick and fast! Following the unveiling of the whole food Magic Apple concept for the sought-after Barchetta site, Kailis Hospitality Group have announced a new luxe dining project set to hit South Cottesloe early 2024. Purported to be the first hospitality offering in South Cott since the Dutch Inn tearoom in the ’40s, Gibney will be bringing bougie brasserie fare to the beach: “luxurious Californian country club meets Parisian hotel lobby”, with plenty of nostalgia and table side drama, plus a stunning fit out by local design firm Rezen (La Lune, Vin Populi, Moana Hall).
Following the announcement that Kailis Hospitality Group (The Shorehouse, Island Market Trigg among others) had won the tender for the sought-after Barchetta site on Marine Parade, George Kailis has revealed his plans for the beachfront Cottesloe location – and he’ll be bringing back long-lost wholefood brand Magic Apple. Originating in the ’70s, the cafés were known for their mantra of “mindful nourishment” – and its latest iteration will follow in the OG’s footsteps, championing nutritious whole foods.
Cover image credit: Little China Girl
Got some food news we need to know about? We’d love to hear about it – drop us a line at food@perthisok.com!